New Kodak Porta 400 Review Part 1

by EveNSteveNovember 11, 2010November 12, 2010

As promised my review of the NEW Kodak Portra 400 speed film. Click on the audio button to listen to Part 1.

Technical Info on sample images below:

New Kodak Portra 400, 35mm.
Scanned on an Imacon Scanner, no sharpening applied
Photoshop adjustments basic to include levels and spotting.

Portra-400-TEST-File — New Kodak Portra 400, EI 400. Click for a larger image.

TwoTestKodakPorta400 — New Kodak Porta 400, EI 400. Click for a larger image.

Crop55from2030 — New Kodak Porta 400, EI 400. 5"x 5" crop from 20" x 30".

Also here is a recent artwork of mine made using the Kodak Porta 400 and the Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique I outlined here some time ago… but now with a tweak!… Print size up to 32″ x 90″!

Cape Cod, 2010 by Stephen Schaub — Cape Cod, 2010. Copyright Stephen Schaub 2010

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

PhotoPlus 2010 Review and Why I Shoot Film Part 2

by EveNSteveOctober 31, 2010

Click on the Audio link to listen to a review of PhotoPlus Expo 2010 as well as Part 2 in my series Why I Shoot Film!

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Stuff On Display at Expo…

photo-(2) — PhotoPlus Expo 2010... Models??

Listening to the Photo Evangalists — Listening to the Photo Evangelists

Why Shoot Film – Part 1

by EveNSteveOctober 25, 2010

Click on the link above to listen to a 6:41 minute discussion on Why Shoot Film, Part 1.

Please note that the test files are kinda big so if you have a slow internet connection just be patient. Also note that the different composition is due to the different aspect ratio but I tried to get at least the top and bottom about the same.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Scanners The Achilles Heel Part 2

by EveNSteveMarch 16, 2010April 19, 2010

Click on the audio logo to listen to a brief rant on the future of film scanners… Part 2!! As mentioned in the audio, contact Kodak and let them know you want your $500 dedicated film scanner now! Also, if you went to a photographic institution- such as RIT (Rochester Institue of Technology) or SCAD (Savannah School of Art and Design)- please send this information to them as well… this directly effects the choices their students will have as working photographers.

LINK TO PART 1: Scanners The Achilles Heel

PS-Two great methods to let your voice be heard on this important topic:

Kodak CMO Jeffery Hayzlett on Twitter: @JeffreyHayzlett

Kodak Scanner Email Contact: kprodigital@kodak.com

If you can, do both!…let your voice be heard!… remember it is our medium! Please reference this article and the $500 dedicated film scanner in both your tweets and in your emails… pass this along to as many photographers as you know…if you get it as a tweet… retweet it and pass it on!

Scanners the Achilles Heel

by EveNSteveMarch 15, 2010April 19, 2010

Click on the audio logo to listen to a rant on the future of film scanners. As mentioned in the audio, contact Kodak and let them know you want your $500 dedicated film scanner now!

Two great methods to let your voice be heard on this important topic:

Kodak CMO Jeffery Hayzlett on Twitter: @JeffreyHayzlett

Kodak Scanner Email Contact: kprodigital@kodak.com

Fuji Discontinues A LOT of Color Films

by EveNSteveMarch 11, 2010April 19, 2010

After reading this post remember that it is always 5 o’clock somewhere so have a stiff drink ready…

I have yet to get the “official” release from Fuji but from what I gather the following is true:

Discontinued:

Velvia 50 4×5 quickload
Velvia 100 4×5 quickload
Velvia 100F 4×5 quickload
Provia 100F 4×5 quickload
Color 160s and 160c: 35, 120, 220, 4×5, 8×10, and 4×5 quickload
Color 800z: 35mm 5pack, 120 and 220
T64 in all formats
Neopan 400 in 120

Not gone only new packaging:

Provia 100F 4×5 and 8×10 now in 20 sheet boxes
Provia 100F 120 now in 5-packs
Arcos 100 120 now in 5-packs
Arcos 100 4×5 now in 20 sheet boxes.
Velvia 50, 100, 100F 4×5 and 8×10 now in 20 sheet boxes
Velvia 50, 100, 100F now in 5-packs

From what I gather this is effective immediately. So what does this mean?… 1. get a freezer and buy a lot of what you love and 2. Support companies like Kodak as they are quickly becoming the best option for the future of film…. did I mention they just released Ektar 4×5 and 8×10 sheet film? Fuji still has many amazing films so don’t despair…

One final thought… discontinuing of certain films may be ok in the long run as I mentioned in a recent interview with Scott Sheppard
Executive Producer/Anchor of Inside Analog Radio … as there are currently too many films offered for the existing size of the film-shooting market… I suspect that this attrition process will continue until we have hit a point at which each company produces their “best” films only and in a quanity that can be sustained financially by film-shooting photographers.

If anyone has additional info please share…

Kodak Ektar 100 Now in 4×5 and 8×10 Sheets

by EveNSteveFebruary 16, 2010February 21, 2010

Here is some happy film news! Eastman Kodak has just announced this morning that the very popular color negative material Kodak Ektar film (C41 process) is now going to be offered in sheet film size for 4″ x 5″ and 8″ x 10″… these new sizes complement the already offered 35mm and 120 film sizes. I have written here on FR on the strengths of this film and think this is a very positive move on Kodak’s part. Now if I could just find a lab here in Vermont who still processes C41 sheet film I’d be all set…

Here is an attached PDF that is the official release information from Kodak.

Kodak BW400CN and Fuji Acros Compared in Caffenol C

by EveNSteveFebruary 3, 2010April 19, 2010

Here is an interesting side by side… shot within a few minutes of each other. The BW400CN is an EI of 200 (this film in my Caffenol C process has a very usable EI range from 50-800). The Fuji Acros is an EI of 100 (box speed… depending on processing time the Acros has a usable EI from 50-800). Both can go further in either direction but this range is the real sweet spot. The crops represent a 4″ x 4″ from a 20″ x 20″ image size… yes the BW400CN has more grain but it is much sharper and I am not sure the grain would even print at the 20″ x 20″ size. Both films have fantastic reciprocity characteristics with no adjustment required until 120 sec.

When you hover over the image it will give the description of the thumbnail.

Viva la Revolution-

Stephen

Kodak 400TX Caffenol Test

by EveNSteveFebruary 3, 2010April 19, 2010

As you know I’ve been doing a lot of testing with Caffenol C in preparation for my book The Photographer’s Coffee Break but this morning I needed to run a quick test with Caffenol (no C) and Kodak 400TX… the results are really nice. With the Caffenol you get a usable film speed around 100 with nice contrast and grain… what’s not to like? Additionally, I have been spending time testing different methods to eliminate edge density which is very common on Caffenol and Caffenol C processed films- this morning I think I nailed it… more testing this afternoon but this image had no edge density which my previous tests with this film and others did have.